Valentine, a lifelong Stamford resident, will begin in his new role immediately and will earn $10,000 annually, a salary he said he plans to give back to the community.

"I'm going to give this my best effort," Valentine said during a press conference with Pavia at the Government Center Thursday. "The thought of trying to do good in a very public way is a very exciting challenge in my life."

Pavia cited Valentine's management and leadership skills as a local business owner and international baseball manager as the rational behind selecting him to head the public safety department. He also pointed to Valentine's work over the past six months as chairman of the mayor's fire department task force as an indication that the job was a good fit.

"He knows the operation of fire service as well as anybody in Stamford," Pavia said. "What that shows me is his commitment to what has to be done."

Valentine said Thursday his main function will be to improve communication between the mayor and the city's police, fire, emergency medical services and health departments.

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"I'm going to be learning on a daily basis all of the things that my job will entail," Valentine said. "(The departments) run " extremely well in the city and the mayor and I think that I'm going to try to help coordinate the flow of information both ways, from him to them, and from the different services to the mayor's office."

Valentine said his full-time job as a Sunday night baseball analyst for ESPN would not interfere with his ability to serve as Stamford's health and public safety director.

He said his work for ESPN will mainly consume night and weekend hours, leaving the days free to oversee Stamford's health and safety departments.

"I get up early, I go to bed late," he said. "There's plenty of hours in the day that I get to do the things that I need to do. I'll be very accessible to anyone who needs me here in the city."

Valentine said he would trust the city's department directors to handle any public safety emergency that might occur while he is out of town.

"It will be handled the same way it will be handled as if it was handled yesterday," he said. "I think the plan is for me to be here and when I'm not here to have a plan so that it's covered."

"The areas that fall to the director of public health and safety are large budget drivers," Skigen said Thursday afternoon. "I think that whoever's in the position needs to devote their full time to getting those items under control and my concern is that with his job at ESPN, how much time he's actually going to be able to devote to this position."

Sgt. Joe Kennedy, president of the Stamford police union, said he was skeptical that Valentine could really contribute to the city's public safety departments.

"When do we get to meet Derek Jeter?" Kennedy said Thursday afternoon. "Honestly, I guess this is going to be a ceremonial position. I know he's a nice guy, I have no idea what his professional background is going to bring to this position."

When asked about Valentine's qualifications Thursday morning, Pavia responded that a background in public safety is not necessary in order to serve as the department's director.

"Bill Callion, the former director of public safety and welfare, did a great job," Pavia said. "Did he have the public safety experience? No. He was a good leader, he was a good manager. Those are the qualities that I've learned are extremely important to a public service career."

Assistant Fire Chief Peter Brown of Stamford Fire & Rescue said Valentine stood out as chair of the mayor's fire service task force for the hours of hard work he put in, whether it was holding court at weekly meetings or surveying nearby fire services on how they conduct operations.

"He did a lot of work on that task force that people don't realize," Brown said. "He spent numerous hours doing that and I thought that was a great thing.

"He doesn't just talk. He does."

Board of Representatives Public Health and Safety committee co-chair Scott Mirkin, R-13, said he was pleasantly surprised by the mayor's appointment.

"It's a choice I never thought of but I couldn't be happier that the mayor has asked and that Bobby Valentine has accepted," Mirkin said Thursday afternoon. "He's obviously bright, he's articulate, he's professional."

Police Chief Robert Nivakoff said he is happy Valentine, whom he has known for 30 years, will be heading the public health and safety department.

"He has a passion for the city of Stamford and compassion and caring for its people," Nivakoff said. "I feel he will support the police department and its endeavors and promulgate our new programs, which are cutting-edge."

On Thursday morning, Valentine walked through the tenth floor of the Government Center. He popped his head into a modestly sized office, which he was told would soon be his. Valentine may assume his duties immediately, according to the city Charter. The Board of Representatives must approve the appointment, however, and will most likely vote on the issue at its regular board meeting in March, Skigen said.

The public safety director job is a cabinet-level position that typically pays between $118,000 and $138,000. Pavia eliminated funding for the job and appointed himself to the vacant position shortly after taking office a year ago as a cost-saving measure. The move saved the city $122,000 and two city jobs, Pavia said.

Valentine said he plans to donate his $10,000 annual salary to community services in Stamford. He cited the Mickey Lione Jr. fund and Stamford's Citizen of the Year scholarship as entities he would be interested in supporting.

"This is a non-salary position," Valentine said. "To receive is wonderful, to give is divine, I guess."